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(No Modem B. W. SPARKS.

HORSE DBTAUHBR.

Patented Deo. 5, 1882. Y

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UNITED vSTATES PATENT OEFIC.

BENJAMIN W. SPARKS, 0E MGMINNvILLE, TENNESSEE, ASSIeNoR or ONE- HALE To WILLIAM T. MURRAY, oE SAME PLAGE.

HORS E-DETACH ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 268,438, dated December 5, 1882.

Application led May 15, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LBENJAMIN W. SPARKS, of McMinnville, Warren county, Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Horse-Detachers for -Vehicles and'AgI-icultural Machinery, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in devices for detachin g horses from vehicles.

It consists, in connection with a single-tree of a vehicle, of certain hooks or catches, which are so formed and secured in place inthe ends of said single-tree as to hold the hooks or rings ofa tug or the loops of a trace, except when it should be necessary to release the horse or horses from the vehicle, and more particularly when the animal is unmanageable, in which event'the trace or tug may be readily unf-astened by Simply drawing a cord, within reach ot' the driver, to revolve the said catches or hooks about their axes and throw the trace rings or hooks ofi' from the single-tree and allow the said animal to go free.

ln my drawings, Figure l is a plan of a double-tree and two single-trees and the application of my detaching device to the same. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of one end of a Single-tree, showing the detac'hing-catch in position to hold the trace. Fig. 3 is a similar view,showing the catch unlocked after detach- Ing.

Similar reference-letters indicate like parts in all of the figures.

Referring to the drawings, A is the singletree, provided with ferrules B, slotted at the ends to form spaces to receive a portion of the detaching-catch.

C is the detaching catch or hook, composed ot' a hook, c', an eye for the detaching-cord, a cam, aand a rectangular lug, b. 'The catch G is pivoted in the single-tree through the lug b, and moves in the slot provided for it. A spring, d, is secured in the single-tree, and bears upon one or another of the edge faces of the rectangular-lug b as the catch C is closed or open, holding it in either position.

passes through several staples or loops fastened i'n the Sides of the single-tree, and thence extending up over the dash-board ofthe vehicle within reach of the driver. When itis de sirable to detach the traces from the singletree the cord F is withdrawn to overcome the tension ofthe springs c d and revolve the detaching-catch C to release the ring E. The cam aJ now comes in contact with the said ring E and throws it entirely clear of the singletree to free the trace or tug.

l do not wish to confine myself to any particular arrangement of sp'rin gs for holding the detaching-catch in or out of position, nor do I wish to be confined to the exact form of detaching-catch Shown in Figs. 2 and 3; but

What l claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The pivoted catch C, formed ofthe hook c' and cam c, and provided with the locking- -spring c, adapted to engage a notch or offset inthe ferrule of a whiflietree, said catch being by its peculiar form and application capable ofholding or detaching a harness-tug,

`as and for the purpose set forth.

` 2. rlhe pivoted catch C, provided withhook a', spring c, lug b, and cani a, adapted to move in a slot inthe end of a whiflietree, which is provided with a notch, c', and spring d, in conibination with thering E or loop of a tug, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

BENJAMIN W. SPARKS.

Witnesses:

G. W. PARKS, ISAAC HILL.` 

